Employee Resources, K-State Research and Extension

Kansas State University121 Umberger HallManhattan 66506

785-532-5790

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Christy Dipman, Extension Horticulture

Planning, organizing, and interacting with horticulture professionals is what Christy Dipman has grown to love. As the administrative specialist for the Department of Horticulture, Forestry and Recreation Resources, Christy has enjoyed her position from the beginning.

“I am an organizer and planner by nature,” Christy said.

Christy grew up in Hanover, Kan., with her four sisters and one brother. She was the middle child and appreciates the close relationship she has with her siblings. After high school Christy attended Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kan., and earned a business degree. Once she heard about the opening at K-State in horticulture she jumped at the opportunity. Thirty-two years later she still loves it.

“I think extension was just made for me, and that’s why I haven’t looked elsewhere.” Christy said. “I love it and the people within the department, agents across Kansas and the industry,” Christy said.

During the year Christy is responsible for coordinating meetings and events for the industry and agents throughout the state. She assists with two major events in the year, the Kansas Turfgrass Conference and the Great Plains Growers Conference, as well as other field days and smaller events locally.

She has learned a lot from working in horticulture and even met her husband, Cliff Dipman, a golf course superintendent.

Christy and Cliff live in Manhattan with her daughter, Cortney who is currently a junior at K-State majoring in elementary education, and their 4-year-old Maltese, Laci, who thinks she is part human. Cliff’s daughter, Kelsey, lives in Chicago, and is going back to school to study kinesiology. Christy and Cortney have a tradition of their own that they do annually. The two of them plan a trip together and have an escape for a week each summer. They usually gravitate to a beach in Florida because they love the ocean.

“A highlight that I look forward to every year is our mother-daughter trip and we have done it every year since she was seven years old,” Christy said.

During her spare time Christy also manages a flower garden of her own. Through the things she has learned from working in horticulture Christy continues to expand it each year. Along with her garden Christy enjoys walking every night, and having family and friend gatherings.

She said she found a good place with extension and loves the people she works with in the department, the agents across Kansas, and especially meeting people in the industry. “Extension was made for me,” she said.